Who Is Erika Anyway?

We are officially a month into my favorite time of year. As anyone who knows me or has been following this blog for a while knows, September through December are my favorite months of the year. I love all the holidays, weather, fashion, food, events, all of it! It makes me so happy and makes me smile. Here are a few things that I have been doing to get in the fall mode. 1. Fall Decor   My mom put this center piece together for our dinning room  and I am in love!  2. Flannel  I have had a recent obsession with flannel. I love wearing them with jeans, paired over a favorite tee, tied around with waist for jacket later, or under a sweater for a pop of pattern. There are just so many styles and I love how cozy and wonderful they are.  3. Fall Coffee Flavors, Fall Colors, and Beautiful Country Views  I am a coffee LOVER and I drink it all year round in many flavors and styles. When fall comes around my go to drink is a hot caramel...

 Senior Year is here!!!!! I have been thinking about this for a while now and it is finally here. I don't want to rush through it and miss all the moments it will bring. My goal for this year is to enjoy the moment, live in it, not worry so much and have fun. Life will move faster than I want it too and I want this to be the best year ever.  I feel like it is so easy to get focused on where you are going and what you need to get done and lose sight of where you are right now. When I was getting ready for school this summer, it seemed like the world was against me having the Senior year of my dreams. I was frustrated for quite a while. I had it all planned, I knew exactly how it was going to go.  My joy for the new school year was gone and felt like I was going to waste it. Then it hit me, I was the problem. I had the plan, I had the ideas, I did the planning, I was robbing my joy.  I was my own enemy. We have all heard how we need to give God our plans and commit e...

 The last month or so my head has been spinning with exciting life experiences, fun adventures and just plain mundane tasks. My first bit of advice for you on this post is no matter what age you are and people tell you not to try and grow up to fast. Do it! Adulthood comes hurling at you like a bullet. It is way better to just take it one step at a time. Remind me of this periodically when I want to charge ahead into life :)   1st Sign Adulthood is Near ~   " You Get Your Driver's License"   Getting my driver's license was one of the more challenging, yet most satisfying things I have done in a while. I love my new freedom to go where I need to without having to mess up my parents schedule. But wait...... this right of passage can be a trap and a sure sign you are headed to adulthood. When you have a vehicle you can now drive it will want one very important thing. Gas. and gas takes money, money requires a job, a job requires you to get to work, getting to wor...

God is good all the time and all the time God is good. This week I spent serving alongside twenty-four volunteers from Trinity Baptist Church in Renton WA and around eighteen volunteers from the Latah area. We put on VBA (Vacation Bible Adventures) Trinity Baptist has been coming to Latah for about fourteen years sharing the love of Christ through songs, skits, crafts, games and so much more. I have had the privilege of being both a child that was touched through the program and serve at VBA for the past four years.  The week after VBA 2011 when I dressed up as a VBA leader Over time I have been blessed by many friendships, been inspired by countless mentors and looked up to many God loving people. This year however, I felt touched more than ever. I was able to have a unique part in VBA due to something I originally thought was a hindrance. Earlier in the year I believed I was not going to get a chance to serve at VBA this year. Due to three jobs and the new chapters I am b...

 Hey Guys! Wow, I can't believe it has been almost two months since my last post. You probably thought I was dead or that I forgot I had a blog. Well, I didn't forget, acutely there have been several times when I have sat down at my computer to write about what is going on my life. However, nothing ever came together into a cohesive thought.  I have missed it terribly, but I have also been incredibly busy enjoying life. As I told someone the other day I feel like I am on a roller coaster ride. Yet, I am learning so much and feel like I am really blessed.  As spring came to a close I finished up my last performances of things such as dance and band. My co-op came to a close. Then I had an amazing opportunity to go to Central Washington University and see their dance company perform. I also explored the campus and feel in love. I am hoping to do a longer post on this trip as part of the travel posts. Before you knew it school was over and I was starting my summer jobs. Ye...

 Well, it is time to hit the crazy part of my spring. I have been planning how to make these next two weeks work for a month. I have been thinking and dreaming of how each day will go. My hopes were built high. Monday I would have orthodontist appointment, Tuesday I would go with mom to the DOL and get my license, then do my first drive and have dinner with my grandparents, Wednesday drive to the dance studio for a rehearsal, go to co-op on Thursday, then off to a tech rehearsal, Friday I would do the same for dress, Saturday the show. Starting on Monday I would do another set of rehearsals for the St. Maries production. It was going to be the greatest. I was on cloud nine dreaming of my new independence.  However, two tires on the curb later when trying to back around the corner and my drive test was done. Hearing them say I was failed sent me into a state of shock. I was done! Holding my self together as much as I could while shaking I went in with the instructor and told m...

"Home Sweet Home is never truer, than after a trip. No matter how long or how short. No matter how good and memorable. There is nothing happier than walking through the rooms in your home, letting all the familiar things greet you. The home watched the chaos of packing and preparing for your adventure and it is there to greet the tired and exhausted you, when you come home. It watches as you unpack your bags and sink into your favorite chair and smile at the pictures. It sings you to sleep as you drift off with the happy memories of your trip." ~ Erika Laulainen  Our family just returned from a marvelous trip to my great grandparents tree farm. We went to spend some time with my Great-Grandmother and Grandparents.  We left Friday after the morning craziness of work, some school, packing, cleaning the house, and any other little chores that needed  to be finished. Loading all the suitcases, bags, and other various paraphernalia into our car, we then did a last c...